If you want add a special touch to your yard you can hang your very own swing from a sturdy tree.
Can you hang a porch swing from a tree.
There are 2 different ways to hang a tree swing.
As the tree grows the rope cuts into the limb which can cause damage.
Do not screw fasteners into the tree.
Use a rubber hose to protect the tree limb from chain abrasion.
You can purchase an entire swing kit that comes with the swing board chains or ropes and certain hooks to use when you are hanging it or make it from scratch.
Choose a branch that is at least 8 inches in diameter where you can attach the swing at least 3 feet away from the tree trunk advises roger cook in the this old house article hanging a tree swing.
The same principle applies with chain.
The first step in hanging any tree swing is finding the right tree.
You can use metal chains or rope as the suspension material both are equally strong as long as you use thick marine grade rope.
If chains seem simpler but you like the look of rope you can wrap rope around your chains like the swing above.
Avoid soft wood such as fruit trees and evergreens.
While many people only use rope to hang swings from tree limbs this isn t the best approach.
With a few items from the hardware store you can sturdily mount a porch swing to the tree in your yard and safely swing for years to come.
Instead use stainless or galvanized steel 5 8 inch eye bolts.
The limb should be between 12 and 20 feet off the ground.
Drilling an eye bolt into the tree is the safest for the tree but it requires specialized tools.
For many people tree swings are a comforting reminder of the joys of childhood.
Nothing s perfect including branches.
When you hop off that swing it s the ground you should meet and not another branch.
There are a couple options when it comes to the hanging your swing.
Hang swing from a tree limb choose a very strong heavy limb that will support the weight of the swing and the people on it.
You could hang the porch swing as normal then where the longer chain is level with the shorter anchor point run a slim cable as used for balustrade cable to the porch wall and house wall.
Either way the process is not complicated.
The best trees to hang swings from have strong thick round high limbs that clear the ground by at least seven feet.